Defining the Core Arabidopsis Root Microbiome (2012)

Undergraduates: Jase Gehring, Derek Lundberg, Sur Herrera Paredes, Scott Yourstone Sarah Lebeis

Faculty Advisor: Jeff Dangl
Department: Biology

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The roots of all land plants mediate complex interactions with the local community of soil bacteria. The plant is responsible for simultaneously utilizing beneficial bacteria while also warding off potential parasites. Understanding the genetic mechanisms by which Arabidopsis and its relatives recruit and repel bacteria is of great agricultural importance. The effects of root-associated bacterial communities include increased crop production and resistance to drought or disease. This work aims to define the core community of bacteria present on the roots of Arabidopsis and its relatives across variables including age, soil type, and accession. To begin to identify the bacteria involved in this relationship, we applied next-generation rDNA sequencing to bacteria-containing samples extracted from bulk soil, the rhizosphere (soil within 1 mm of the root), and the root itself (containing endophytic bacteria). Our results show that a small number of bacterial phyla make up the majority of root-associated bacteria in Arabdidopsis.